epidemic typhus

ep·i·dem·ic ty·phus

typhus caused by Rickettsia prowazekii and spread by body lice; marked by high fever, mental and physical depression, and a macular and papular eruption; lasts for about 2 weeks and occurs when large crowds are brought together and personal hygiene standards are at a low ebb; recrudescences can occur.

epidemic typhus

an acute severe rickettsial infection characterized by prolonged high fever, headache, and a dark maculopapular rash that covers most of the body. The causative organism, Rickettsia prowazekii, is transmitted indirectly as a result of the bite of the human body louse or squirrel flea or louse; the pathogen is contained in feces of the louse and enters the body tissues as the bite is scratched. Disease is manifested by the abrupt onset of an intense headache and a fever reaching 40° C (104° F) beginning after an incubation period of 1 week. The rash follows on the fifth day of onset. Complications may include vascular collapse, renal failure, pneumonia, or gangrene. Mortality rate is as high as 40% depending on preexisting clinical conditions. Treatment may include antipyretics and supportive symptomatic care. Health care workers are at risk of acquiring this infection from louse bites or louse feces. Also called classic typhus,European typhus,jail fever,louse-borne typhus. Compare murine typhus. See also Brill-Zinsser disease,Rickettsia, typhus.

ep·i·dem·ic ty·phus

(ep'i-dem'ik tī'fŭs)

Disease caused by Rickettsia prowazekii and spread by body lice; marked by high fever, mental and physical depression, and a macular and papular eruption; lasts about 2 weeks and occurs when large crowds are brought together and personal hygiene is poor; recrudescences can occur. Synonym(s): jail fever.

epidemic

a level of disease occurrence in an animal population which is significantly greater than usual; only occasionally present in the population, widely diffused and rapidly spreading. The disease is clustered in space and time. The word has common usage in veterinary science in preference to the more accurate, epizootic.

poisoning by Neotyphodium (Acremonium) coenophialum; called also fescue summer toxicosis.

multiple event epidemic

when the epidemic begins at about the same time in a number of places, e.g. when a poisoned batch of feed is supplied to a number of farms.

point epidemic

when the epidemic begins at one central point, with a large number of animals coming in contact with the source over a short time; a very rapid form of spread with a number of cases presenting with the same stage of the disease at the one time, indicating the single source of the pathogen.

propagated epidemic, propagative epidemic, propagating epidemic

outbreaks in which the disease propagates in one or more initial cases and then spreads to others, a relatively slow method of spread.

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.